Carlos Sainz’s Fourth Dakar Triumph: Keys to Dominance and Strategy

Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, driving for Audi, finished fourth in Dakar. This edition saw him fail to win any of the twelve stages, yet he was a dominant presence from start to finish, leading through the second week. So what were the keys to his success?

Relating to

• Cristina Gutiérrez, first Spanish woman to win Dakar
• Carlos Sainz after winning Dakar: “I have the rope to celebrate victory”

Superiority in three important stages of Dakar

Sainz entered three of the twelve stages marked as pivotal. A tough day between Al Ula and Al Henakiyah tested every driver; the sixth stage was a 48-hour time trial across the world’s largest dune field, and the penultimate day proved to be another grueling marathon before reaching Yanbu.

He conquered all three. The Madrid native finished second in the opening heat, widening the gap with Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah, the two-time defending champion and his chief rival. Sainz finished 1 minute and 44 seconds behind the stage winner, Belgian Guillaume de Mevius, with more than 12 minutes ahead of Swede Mattias Ekström, 20 minutes ahead of Frenchman Sébastien Loeb, and 22 minutes ahead of another competitor. Ahead of Al-Attiyah and nearly half an hour in front of Peterhansel, the Audi driver stretched his advantage.

That performance built confidence as Sainz placed second overall in the demanding 48-hour time trial, the rally’s queen stage. On the first day of the two-day stretch, Sainz beat his Qatari rival by more than 25 minutes, a clear edge that elevated him to interim leader. The second day saw him slow slightly, finishing second, nearly five minutes behind Loeb, yet the Spaniard still faced a meaningful hit to his general classification progress.

Sainz wins fourth Dakar

The rally carried on with a strong showing through the second week. On the penultimate day, Sainz led the first eight stages of the final test, a 420-kilometer cobbled route where many rivals faced mechanical issues. Only a puncture prevented him from sealing a fourth Dakar victory on a day that otherwise looked like a near-certain triumph.

All your rivals’ problems

The misfortunes that haunted Sainz in previous seasons did not recur in 2024. The Madrid native enjoyed a clean run, while many rivals suffered mechanical failures or crashes. One notable incident involved Yazeed Al Rajhi, who crashed while leading the general classification on the sixth stage and could not rejoin the race. The following day, Al-Attiyah’s Audi experienced a mechanical failure, costing him more than an hour, while Ekström endured a similar setback, dropping far behind the Spaniard and ending his challenge for the title. By the penultimate stage, Loeb was within 13 minutes of Sainz, but a front suspension issue cost him crucial time and momentum, bolstering Sainz’s lead.

Carlos Sainz after winning Dakar: “I have the rope to celebrate victory”

With the final stages approaching, Sainz demonstrated sustained control. The resilience of his Audi crew and the strategy employed throughout the rally helped him maintain pace and manage risk on challenging terrains. The result was a memorable third Dakar triumph for the driver, reflecting a combination of skill, team coordination, and a calm ability to leverage opportunities as they arose.

Penalty for Loeb

On the sixth day, the pace was grueling, and opening the track became a disadvantage in the 48-hour stage through one of the world’s harshest dunes. Drivers lost time trying to avoid mistakes, choosing caution over aggression in a demanding section. Loeb, aiming to optimize his overall position, faced a notable penalty for failing to pass an intermediate timing point, which could have helped him gain leverage in the second week as he contended with Sainz for the lead.

Sainz did not rush to cross the finish, waiting briefly to avoid unnecessary risks, a caution that allowed him to maintain a lead. Loeb faced the penalty and saw his challenge wane as Sainz pressed onward.

Nasser on his own, Audi helping Sainz

Nasser Al-Attiyah’s role could have altered the outcome for Loeb, but the Qatari driver chose not to abandon the rally to assist his teammate. The dynamics within the team and the support from Audi’s resources proved decisive in keeping Sainz ahead as the rally progressed through the final stages, particularly as Loeb encountered additional challenges that limited his ability to threaten the overall standings.

Cristina Gutiérrez, first Spanish woman to win Dakar

Despite the intense competition and shifting alliances, the rally showcased how teamwork can influence outcomes. The partnership between Sainz and his teammates, including Ekström and Peterhansel, helped ensure Sainz’s vehicle remained in peak condition, ready to capitalize on opportunities when they arose. On the penultimate stage, with spare tires running low, Ekström lent support by delivering wheels, keeping the Madrid driver in a favorable position as the finish line approached.

Great strategy

Strategy played a pivotal role in Audi’s Dakar victory. Early attempts to race for a top-ten finish during the prologue did not unfold as planned; Sainz’s approach involved measured pacing, careful braking, and resurgence as the rally progressed. By mirroring leading lines and time-efficient braking on challenging sections, he could extend his advantage and maintain a steady climb toward the front. The same approach proved valuable in the penultimate stage, where starting behind Loeb and ahead of Ekström allowed Sainz to respond quickly to any misstep by a rival. A disciplined, calculated strategy underpinned the overall lead and the final triumph, solidifying Sainz’s status as a Dakar champion with a time advantage that exceeded one hour and twenty minutes.

All of this culminated in Sainz securing his fourth Dakar, a resounding victory that crowned him as a king of rally raid, showcasing skill, teamwork, and strategic depth that defined this memorable edition.